OFF LIFE

The Art Project I wish I could draw as well as my mind can see! Thought For The Day That was it. You missed it? My Current Obsession Starting this bloody silly magazine idea up.  You know the WBK thing.  anyway -I'll get to that later.  THIS is far more important. It's a review.

I know this review is late, but that's because I didn't get hold of it until the other day. BUT, I have to tell you, it was worth the wait. (Please don't use that as an excuse to make me wait so long again. if you could see the sweat I was in......panicing that I wouldn't get a copy.)

Anyway. What sort of a review is it, if you don't know what I'm talking about? I'll tell you.

The new magazine is OFF LIFE, and it's a totally new concept.  It's not being made for money - to line some already bloated suit with our hard earned cash. No - because it's FREE. you find it when you are out and about, and you pick it up and take it way to enjoy at your leisure - or you pick it up while you are out, read it and enjoy it, then leave it behind for somebody else to enjoy.  How good is that eh?  How often does somebody say "Here, take this good thing and enjoy it, you don't have to pay for it."....and there not be a catch. I can hear your reply now. "What's the catch?" - Well, there isn't one!

So the next argument made by the cynical old goats amongst you will be "Well - If it's free, it must be rubbish."  Wrong again! Its' full of really good thought provoking comics by well established artists. It's on a very nice quality matt paper, and the print quality is crisp, clean, and generally quite lovely.

There is a slight problem, and that is it is only availale in Bristol and London at the moment, although I believe the intention is to gradually roll it out to other cities as they can. You can however enjoy it online here http://www.offlife.co.uk/, if you cannot get a paper copy - (Although I would urge you to try to find a proper one if you can, I'll explain why in a bit.)

Sorry, I still haven't said much about the actual magazine have I?  OK, it's to bring comics back to the mainstream reader, so that they aren't just seen as something for little kids or nerdy older kids in special shops. Comic strips can be funny, they can be aimed at children, they can be aimed at superhero fans - but they don't have to be. They can be enjoyed by everybody, they can have a meaningful message, which will often stay in our minds more with their visual aspect, than just a written article would, and can be read repeatedly and still enjoyed.

My personal favourites were the collaboration of Daniel Humphries and Will Elliot on Loud Neighbours with it's drk twist on the Pinocchio story, Rob Davis' surreal vision in How I Built My Father (and where I went wrong), and Liz Lunney's The Lemon Parade, which was one of the funniest in this issue, although I found it hard to read on the digital copy as the text is so small. (Just my old eyes, I sure)  I think that strip might have benefitted from being enlarged a little and spread over 2 pages, as even the print edition has small text.

Possibly the most moving story is Slow To Heal by Silent Paige. I won't spoil it for you. Just read it OK?

So, there you have it. A free comic to people in Bristol and London - Get out there and find one, it won't cost you anything, and you may just find that comics aren't just kidstuff. I look forward to seeing issue 2,and hope that it continues. Well done to all involved.

A Record Review - And it's ACE!

Music - YES - Today there is something new! The Art Project And here. somthing new here too! Thought For The Day nothing new My Current Obsession nothing new

OK. First off, I have a new record. Sent to me by those jolly fine people at ACE Records, a company that brought me immense pleasure as I was discovering the rock'n'roll scene. As soon as I clear some of the junk out of the record room, and can reach some of the hidden shelves I am going to have to dig out those first ACE compilations and review them properly, as I see that they are still available, and I know they were good.

Anyway - To the record I have just got. Here is my review (Just got to find a home for it now.)

Booker T & The MGs  - Soul Limbo (ACE Records)

If you are looking for a ‘Best Of’ type compilation of Booker T & the MGs, then this might not be the one for you. It is however, an essential buy for anybody that likes the sound of the Stax house band, Booker T & The MGs. It is a faithful reissue of their 1968 LP on Stax ‘Soul Limbo’.Okay, so it might not have the one everybody knows ‘Green Onions’ or the classic ‘Time Is Tight’, but you will not be disappointed by the tracks it does have. 

It boasts an impressive array of differing styles, from the bright, cheerful uptempo version of The Tams ‘Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy, to the much more laid back cover of the Delfonics ‘La La Means I Love You’. Both tracks are heavily dominated by the Hammond organ and guitar sound,  which the band are best known for. The  sound however, is considerably varied when they do their version of the old jazz standard Willow Weep For Me. A song that has been recorded by the likes of Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. This version relies upon the piano instead of an organ as it’s key instrument, which is perfect for this slow bluesy number.

Although the majority of the recordings on this album are instrumental cover versions of songs popularised by artists of the time such as Aretha Franklin, Albert King, Jimi Hendrix and even The Beatles. There are also a handful of their own compostions.  Such as Heads Or Tails, Over Easy, and the instantly recognisable ‘Soul Limbo’  which gives this LP it’s title. Even people who have never heard of Booker T & The MGs will know this track, as it has been used extensively on British TV for coverage of the Cricket. It’s great to hear this magnificent track in it’s entirety.

You can hear, from listening to this album why Booker T & The MGs were in such high demand as the Stax House band, as they adopt whatever style they are performing in so well. This is perfectly demonstrated in the closing track of the album ‘Foxy Lady’ which is instantly recognisable o the work of Hendrix. You could be forgiven for thinking that the man himself was on the recording.

As well as the vinyl reproduction, this offering is also available as a CD, for those that want to enjoy this classic album, but no longer have access to a record player.

..And the art project. Well, I guess it's not really a project now. More of a 'Do a bit of arty stuff as and when I can, then try to find a home for it, so that I don't end up with even more junk filling up space, so that I can't reach the things I want - such as my records (See above)

So now, instead of painting a random picture for no reason whatesover - I try to find somebody that wants one, then send it to them when it's finished. Junk for them to store, rather than me you see....happiness all round.

I've done three recently.  One day I'll let you see them all.